Numbers 24

24 ¹Balaam saw that it pleased our Father to bless Israel, so he did not seek omens as before, but turned toward the wilderness. ²Balaam looked up and saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; then the Spirit of our Father came on him. ³He lifted his oracle and said: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, ⁴the oracle of one who hears the words of our Father, who sees the vision of the Almighty, bowing down with eyes wide open: ⁵How lovely are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel! ⁶Like valleys stretching far, like gardens beside a river, like aloes our Father has planted, like cedars beside the waters. ⁷Water will flow from his buckets, and his descendants will have abundant water. His king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. ^a a v7 Agag was the king of Amalek, Israel's long-standing enemy — Israel's king will surpass him. ⁸Our Father brings Israel out of Egypt; Israel is like the horns of the wild ox to them. Israel will devour the nations who oppose them, break their bones, and pierce them with arrows. ⁹He crouches, he lies down like a lion, like a lioness—who dares rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you."

¹⁰Balak's anger flared against Balaam, and he clapped his hands. Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but you've blessed them three times now! ¹¹Now flee home! I said I would richly honor you, but God has kept you from honor."

¹²Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, ¹³'Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I couldn't go beyond my God's command to do good or bad on my own; I can only say what my God tells me'? ¹⁴And now I am going back to my people. Come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come."

The Star Rising From Jacob

¹⁵Then he lifted his oracle, saying: "Oracle of Balaam son of Beor, oracle of the man whose eye is opened, ¹⁶the oracle of one who hears the words of our Father, who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, bowing down with eyes wide open: ¹⁷I see him, but not now; I gaze on him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel; it will crush the brow of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. ^b b v17 Balaam, a foreign diviner, is made to prophesy of a coming King. This star and scepter point ultimately to Jesus, whom the New Testament calls "the bright morning star" and the ruler from Jacob's line. ¹⁸Edom will be conquered, and Seir, his enemies, will be conquered, while Israel grows strong. ¹⁹One from Jacob will rule, and will destroy the survivors of the city."

²⁰Then Balaam saw Amalek, took up his message, and said: "Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is utter destruction."

²¹He looked at the Kenite, took up his oracle, and said: "Your dwelling place is firm, your nest set in the rock. ²²Yet Kain will be consumed when Asshur takes you away captive."

²³He took up his oracle and said: "Who can live when God does this? ²⁴Ships will come from the coasts of Kittim; they will afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, but they too will come to utter destruction." ^c c v24 Kittim refers to the western Mediterranean coastlands — a future sea power coming against Assyria.

²⁵Then Balaam rose and went back to his home, and Balak also went on his way.